Crate.



J. F. SCHOBPPL, DECD.

- J. T. SGHEU, BXEOUTOIL CRATE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 10, 1912. 7 1,080,077. Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

v 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

an ucufot Jase wk life/100 J. F. SCHOEPPL, DEOD. J. T. scum, EXEOUTOR.

CRATE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 10, 1912.

Patented Dec. '2, 1913.

I}, 2 8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. P. SUHOEPPL, DEGD.

J. T. SUHEU, EXEOUTOR.

CRATE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1912.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

Mimi! M nnow UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

JOSEPH F. SCHOEPPL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND; J'OIEIN THOMAS SCHEU, EZEGUTOB OF S AID SCHOEPPL, DECEASED. I

CRATE.

Specification of Letters latrnt.

Application filed May 10, 1912. Serial No. 696,526.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. SoHoErrL, citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to crates intended for the handling of bottles, and has for its object the provision of a crate with wooden sides and ends and metallic internal holders so constructed and arranged that spreading or splitting of the outer walls will be prevented, and the interior metallic bottle holders will be prevented from shifting within the walls, so that the bottle cells will retain their original dimensions and forms throughout the life of the crate.

' The invention resides in certain features of construction and connection of the various parts whereby a rigid durable crate may be provided at a cost of production which will be slight compared with the durability of the product.

The invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate embodying my present improvements, one of the side walls being broken away so as to more clearly show the construction and connections of the interior parts. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of the same. Fig.4 is a detail perspective view showing a modification of the upright connections between the upper and lower grilles. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the preferred form of the upright bracing connection is produced. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail perspective views showing successive steps in the application of the said bracing connection. Fig. 8 is a detail perspect ve view on a large scale showing the connection between the interlacingbars and the upright; Fig. 9 is a' detail perspective view of a modified form of the said upright.

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of an end of one of the bars, showing the preferred form thereof. Fig. 11 is a similar view showing a modification. Fig. 12 is a detail view of the upper end of one of the side plates or connections. Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing another form of crate. Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail section. F1g. 15 s an enlarged detail perspective view showing the connection between the horizontal bars of the grille and the end plates. Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of one of the upright end connecting plates. In carrying out my invention, I employ s1de Walls, 1, and end walls 2 which are constructed of wood, the end walls being formed with openings 3 to facilitate the handling of the crate. The side and end walls are secured together by nails or other suitable fastening devices, and the end walls are prov1ded in their inner faces with horizontal grooves opening through their side edges to receive the end transverse bars 4 of the metallic grilles constituting the bottle holders, the grooves being equal in depth to the thickness of the said bars, so that the bars will lie flush with the surfaces of the end walls.

In the preferred form of my invention, I employ three horizontally disposed vertically spaced metallic grilles, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, each of which con sists of transverse and longitudinal flat bars or strips having notches 5 in their edges which are arranged to extend alternately from the opposite longitudinal edges of the bars or strips, so that, when the bars .are

fitted together by causing the notches to -fined by the bars will retain their original shapes and dimensions throughout thelife of the crate. v F The bars are constructed with heads 6 joined to the ends of the bars by integral reduced necks .7, the heads of the longitudinal' bars being inserted through slots in the end or outermost transverse bars 4, and subsequently twisted, so that they will lie at an angle to the said slots in the manner illustrated in Fig. 15 and consequently prevent the separation of the said parts. I prefer to form the heads of the shape shown in Fig, 10, in which the outer edges of the heads are converging planes, whereby a slightly pointed projection 10 is furnished which will embed itself in the wall of the crate when the crate is assembled. It may sometimes, however, be preferred to give the head the form hown in Fig. 11, in which the outer edge of the head is a convex arc,

and such construction is within the scope of my invention.

The uppermost grille 11 and the intermediate grille 12 are duplicates, and the heads at the ends of their respective transverse bars 13 and l l engage slots 8 at the upper and lower ends of the end connecting bars 9 whereby the grilles are held in their vertically spaced relation, the heads being subsequently twisted as shown in Fig. 15 in the same manner that the heads at the ends of the longitudinal bars are twisted. These connecting plates 9 are fitted in vertical recesses formed in the side walls of the crate, as shown clearly in Figs. 1, 3 and 14:, so that the said plates or connecting bars will lie flush with the inner surfaces of the said side walls, and thereby avoid the formation of projecting shoulders or corners in which dirt might lodge. It will also be noted, more particularly upon reference to Fig. 1, that the vertical connecting plates or bars engaged by the end transverse bars of the grilles fit against the side edges of the end walls of the crate, and are clamped thereto by side walls so that, when properly assembled, the walls of the crate will rigidly secure the grilles in position and the ends of all the bars of the grilles will be embedded in the walls. The lowermost grille 15 is likewise composed of intersecting longitudinal and transverse bars 16 and 17 which are fitted together by means of inter-engaging notches formed in their edges, and the ends of all the transverse bars and the inner longitudinal bars of this lowermost grille are also constructed with heads adapted to be embedded in the walls of the crate, when the same are assembled, but the ends of the outermost longitudinal bars are left in their original rectangular form, as shown at 18. whereby they will have a firm flat bearing against the edge of the end wall and may be firmly held thereto by the side wall, the side wall being provided with a longitudinal groove to receive said bar, as will be understood.

In the preferred form of the crate, as

- shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, this lowermost grille constitutes the bottom of the crate, so that a circulation of air will be permitted around the bottles within the crate, and cleaning of the. crate will be facilitated, as no water will collect therein but will at once pass ofl through the open bottom. To support the bottles, however, and prevent them dropping through the crate, the number of transverse bars in this lower grille is considerably greater than in the upper and intermediate grilles, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

While the construction just described,-by which the ends of the grilles are embedded in and secured by the walls of the crate, will effectually prevent dislocation of the outer portions of the grilles,'the central portions of the grilles will tend to lose their rigidity and shape unless additional support is provided therefor, and to this end I employ a plurality of bracing uprights by which the movement of the intermediate portions of the bars upon each other is effectually prevented. In. constructing these uprights, I employ a blank consisting of a flat metallic strip, the length of which is somewhat greater than the distance between the underside of the lowermost grille and the top of the uppermost grille. Open-ended slots or notches 19 are formed in the ends of this blank, and at a point intermediate the ends of the blank, I form a longitudinal slot 20, from which a slit 21 extends upwardly and outwardly to one side edge of the blank, thereby forming a tongue 22, the inner edge of which forms one side wall of the slot. In applying this upright to the grilles, one of the intersecting bars of the intermediate grille is passed through the slot 20, while the other intersecting bar is clamped by thetongue 22. To permit the assembling of the parts, the tongue 22 is bent downwardly on a line leading transversely from the lower end of the slot 20, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, thereby opening one entire side of the slot and exposing an extended recess in the side of thebrace. The brace may: then be engaged under one of the intersecting bars of the grille and moved upwardly upon the same, soas to bring the said bar entirely within the slot 20, as shown most clearly in Fig. 8. The tongue is then bent back to its original position except that its extremity is still bent downwardly, as shown clearly in Fig. 7, and this bent extremity of the tongue is then bent closely around the intersecting bar, so as to clamp the same, as shown in Fig. 8. Movement of the bars, relative to eachother, will thus be effectu all'y prevented, as movement in one direction will be intercepted and resisted by the walls of the slot 20 and movement in the intersecting plane will be prevented by the tongue 22 and the adjacent side of the up right. The-upright or brace having been thus secured to the intersecting bars of the intermediate grille, the notched or forked ends of the same are engaged with bars of the upper and lower grilles and are then bent downwardly and upwardly to fit around the intersecting bars of the said grilles, as shown at 23. Shifting of the parts thus secured is effectually prevented, as the bent ends of the brace will effectually prevent movement of the brace transversely tothe bars over which theyare bent, and the walls of the notches in said ends will effectually prevent movement longitudinally of said bars by engaging the sldes of the intersecting bars. The bracin uprights may: be provided at all of the intermediate points of intersection of the grilles, or may be provided only at those- .slit 26 is extended from the upper end of the said slot, thereby forming a tongue 27. To assemble this brace, in connection with the intersecting bars of the grille, the tongue 27' is bent laterally to permit the slot 25 to be engaged over one of theintersecting bars, and the tongue is then bent back to its original position, so as to bear against the side of the said bar and prevent the same being released from the slot.

In Fig. 4:, I have shown a further modi fication of the crate, in whichuthe intermediate bars or the intermediate grille are omitted, and the bars of the upper grille are appreciably wider than those of the lower grille to furnish the required strength,

this form of crate being intended more particularly for milk bottles,'while the form previously described and shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is'intended more particularly for beer bottles. In the form shown in Fig. 4, the tongue and slot at an intermediate point ,of the upright braces are omitted, and the forked or notched ends of the braces maybe inserted through slots 28 in one of the intersect-ing bars of the grille, the side walls of the notches in the'braces engaging the other intersecting bar, as clearly shown.

' In Fig. 13, I have shown the crate as provided with a wooden bottom 29, and the intersecting bars of both the 'upper' and lower grills are spaced sufficiently far apart to permit the bottles to pass therethrough and rest upon the w den bottom of the crate. In this form f the invention, the lower ends of the upright braces are not bent and slotted to engage the intersecting bars of the grille, but may rest upon the wooden bottom of the crate. The upper ends of the braces are connected to the upper grille in the manner hereinbefore described, while the intermediate portions of the braces may be connected to the intersecting bars ofthe lower grille in the manner shown in Fig. 8, or as shown in Fig. 9, as may be' preferred. As there is sometimes a tendency in the side walls of the crate to warp, I may resist this tendency by extending the upper and lower ends of one or more of the end connecting plates or bars 9, as shown at 30, and these extended ends are beveled or pointed and then bent outwardly, so that, when the walls of the crate are brought into position relative to the grilles, the said pointed extendedends of these bars or plates will pass through the walls and may be clenched against the same, so as to effectually hold them to the grilles and prevent separation of the parts through the warping of the walls. The heads formed on the ends of the longitudinal and transverse bars of the grilles readily embed themselves in the wooden walls of the crate, it being understood that the grilles are first completed, and the wooden walls of the crate are then ,brought into engagement therewith under :pressure. These heads furthermore facilitate the assembling of the parts of the grille, as they will readily pass through the slots in the outermost transverse bars or the upright end connecting bars, and, being given a very slight twist, will extend across the said slots and thereby effectually prevent separation of the intersecting members. The recesses which receive the connecting plates 9, being vertical, extend across the grain of the wood and, therefore, have no tendency to split the side walls and thin material may be used. The slot 8 need not be long enough to permit the head to be in= serted directly therethroughas, by engaging one edge of the concave neck upon the end wall of the slot, the head may be rocked through the slot and engage the outer face of the connecting plate. The shoulders at the base of the neck completely cover or close the slots in the connecting members so that dirt cannot collect in said slots and the concave form of the necks permits the heads to be twisted as described without breaking off for the reason that small fins are provided on the edges at the endsof the necks which reinforce. the same.

. What I claim, is

1. In a crate, the combination of outer walls, metallic members seated snugly therein, and grilles consisting of intersecting bars rovided at their ends with heads passing through the members seated in the walls of the crate and embedded in said walls behind said members.

2. In a crate, the combination of outer walls, metallic members seated therein flush slots, and grilles consisting of intersecting bars provided at their ends with heads passing through the said slots and embedded in the walls of the crate behind said members at angles to extend across said slots.

3. In a crate, the combination of outer walls, upper and lower grilles fitted between with the surface thereof and provided with the said walls connecting plates attached to the outer ends of the bars composing said grilles and seated in the outer walls, the saidplates disposed at the corners of the grilles being located in the joints between the side and end walls of the crate.

4. In a crate, the combination of upper' and lower grilles composed of intersecting flat metallic bars, and flat metallic upright braces extending between the grilles at points of intersection between said bars and each having a slot through which passes one of said bars and an integral tongue forming a closure for said -slot.

5. In a crate, the combination of upper and lower grilles consisting of intersecting bars, and upright braces having their upper ends engaging b'oth intersecting bars of the upper grille, the said upright braces being each provided between its ends with a slot receiving a bar of a lower grille and having a flexible tongue arranged to close one side of said slot.

6. In a crate, the combination of upper and lower grilles consisting of intersecting bars, and bracingv uprights having their upper ends engaging both intersecting bars of the upper grille, said bracing uprights being each provided between its ends with a slot receiving a bar of a lower grille and with a tongue adapted to form one side wall of said slot and clamp the bar intersecting the bar engaged by said slot,

7. In a crate, the combination of upper and lower grilles consisting of intersecting bars, and bracing uprights having their upper ends engaging the upper grille at the points of intersection of the bars thereof, said uprights being each provided between its ends with a slot snugly receiving a bar of a lower grille and having a slit extending upwardly and outwardly fro-m one upper corner of said slot thereby-forming a tongue adapted to clamp the bar intersecting the bar engaged by the slot.

8. In a crate, the combination of outer walls, some of which are provided with vertical recesses in their inner faces," upper and lower grilles arranged between the walls, connecting plates seated in said recesses flush with the inner faces of the walls, and connections between said plates and the opposite walls of the slots being parallel,

the edges of said necks being concave and the heads being disposed at an angle to the adjacent ends of the bars at the outer sides of the connecting members.

10. In a crate, the combination of outer walls, upper and lower grilles arranged between the walls, and connecting plates between the grilles at the sides of the same, some of said plates having their ends forked and extended through and clenched against the adjacent outer walls.

11. In a crate, the combination of side and end walls, the end walls being provided in their inner faces with spaced horizontal grooves and the side walls being provided in their inner faces with horizontal grooves meeting the lowermost grooves in the end walls and with vertical recesses above the grooves, grilles consisting of transverse and longitudinal bars, the outer bars of the lowest grille'being seated in the meeting horizontal grooves of the side and end walls and the outer transverse bars of the upper grilles being seated in the upper horizontal grooves of the end walls, and connectingbars seated in the vertical recesses of the side walls and connecting the ends of the vertically alined intermediate transverse bars of the upper and intermediate grilles.

In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature in presence of two witnesses JOSEPH F. scHoEPPL. [n.sj

Vitnesses:

J. D. YoA'KLEY, SAMUEL N. ACKER. 

